| City/Town: • Davis |
| Location Class: • Government |
| Built: • 1930's | Abandoned: • 1980's |
| Status: • Abandoned |
| Photojournalist: • Billy Dixon |
Collings Castle located in Turner Falls park , Davis, OK isn’t completely abandoned and is relatively easy to access. It is a definitely a sight to see. The Castle was built from native brick and stone and was built in the early 1930s by Dr. Ellsworth Collings, Dean of Education at the University of Oklahoma.
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4/18/21 Just left the place. In no way do I believe this was a “Castle/home” that a guy built. Nothing resembles a home. However, every building and structure standing resembles a military fort. A heavily guarded one. There was one room that looked to be a cell had scratches in the wall. You have to look, they are 90 years old, supposedly. There was some rebar showing in the roof. If you go please look, I didn’t see a diamond pattern which dates this before 1920. You will notice the design to kill any force coming from below.
Who would build there front door up a 40 staircase? It’s leg day, just so you know.
Justin, I was thinking the same thing.
This is another one of those buildings, that’s why I was searching for pictures online. Do you have any photos of your visit there?
Why was it abandoned?
I was wonderiing the same. It looks like the perfect place I would have chosen as a playground when I was a child.
I have not been to Turner Falls but just thought I should share my frustration in trying to even reserve a cabin there…I called the number listed on their website for days on end to no avail, all I got was a recorded message saying their hours of operation and to please call back! (580-369-2988) Then I sent a message via e-mail through their website to no avail! Finally I found a different number to call (580-368-2917) and somebody actually answered!!! She was quite rude when I asked if I could reserve a cabin for the up coming weekend, telling me that they are booked through the summer. She offered no other options, I had to ask if week days were available and the answer was simply yes. The Chamber of Commerce will be happy to give you a list of other wonderful cabins to stay in around the Arbuckle Mountains.
Can you buy it?
in order to investigate this place, do i need to contact the city of davis? I would like to get in this place
No you do not need special access, to climb the stairs and check it all out. You do however, have to pay fees to enter Turner Falls park (about $20/pp in the summer) Be prepared to climb lots of narrow stairs!
Do they do events there? Im looking for a unique spot to get married and would love love to get married there.
Any links to pictures when it was occupied?
ndepth.newsok.com/collings-castle is where you can read the best history articles on the Collings Castle. It was built in the early 30's by people that Dr. Collings hired, so that they could make money during the Depression Era. You can read more at the link above. 🙂
-Raeanna
It was occupied until around 1988 when it was sold to Turner Falls Park Officials
Looks like a preppers paradise!
[…] of claustrophobia. You can view a lot of photos and find out more about the Collings Castle at Abandon OK. Turner Falls, Davis […]
I used to go to YMCA Camp Classen every summer as a kid. The camp was built on land that used to belong to the Collings 101 Ranch, and there are still bits of buildings and walls all over the place. In fact, the main horse paddock is a paddock built by the ranch and it looks exactly like this castle. Thanks for bringing back some memories.
[…] Named after pioneer Mazeppa Turner, this has been a recreation spot since 1868 and is operated by the city of Davis. Back in junior high or high school my friend Jeff and I camped with his family at Turner Falls. We swam in the pools, strolled along Honey Creek, and clambered about the hillsides. For some reason one of my clearest memories is of Jeff playing Wizard of Wor there: I was hopeless at video games, but he could advance far enough to earn a bonus warrior, and I loved how the crude voice synthesizer would have the Wizard taunt, “Another warrior for my babies to devour.” The park’s odd ruins of Collings Castle, built by OU’s education dean back in the 1930s, are fun to explore and featured at Abandoned Oklahoma. […]
a friend linked me this, http://ndepth.newsok.com/collings-castle?custom_c… asking if we could go , well that was sorta unspoken :p waht she actulay said was "She's always wanted to see that place "
there is a FACE on the picture CASTLE 005 please look at it!!! i
this is awesome just now visiting your site awesome stuff really glad my buddy told me about it
I'm suprised the Castle toilet hasn't been busted to pieces! usualy that's the first thing to go!
Pic # 98 is my fave!
It surprised me too! Jeeze, picture 98 is your favorite.. looking at other posts usually it's in the 20's-30's you find a favorite in.. maybe i'm taking too many. Haha
We just went up there today to take pictures while the place wasn't packed. Most of the doors have been kicked in and the toilet is gone. Makes you sick that people have no respect for the things from the past, and wouldn't want to help preserve it for the future generations to enjoy. We also found a rock in the river that looks like it has a date of 1390 or 1350 carved in it. Still trying to figure that one out. New or old? Who knows?
"The Castle was build"
Oh no.. the typo got published? I never got to correct it!
Being the AOk editor I noticed it right off! lol
Thats ok Billy, we all know what you mean.
Nice post by the way, That castle is awesome!
Haha, fail!
lol…. fixed
Thank you for correcting my horrid typing skills.